Should I fix head gasket or get new engine? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

down the river · 12-05-2003, 02:44 PM

I have a 93 pickup with a 22re. Head gasket is definately shot. Big mess with coolant everywhere. Is it worth it to replace headgasket and get the head machined? I hear that a properly repaired engine that has a few miles on it (180K) could create other problems, as the increase in compression in the cylinders could increase the strain on other components.

Anyone every heard of this? Is it better to just get a rebuilt engine?

Thanks for any advice.....

94 Yota · 12-05-2003, 07:00 PM

Im curious too. I'm pretty sure my head gasket is shot too, checked the oil today (trucks been sitting for months, haven't been able to get to it yet) and it looks like chocolate milk under my oil cap. also, started it up to put it on the trailer and white smoke just blowing in the wind! I'm gonna stick with my engine for now, but im curious for down the road.

Nick · 12-05-2003, 07:51 PM

i changed my head gasket on my old volvo 740 at 270 000 kms, sold the car a couple months later at 286 000, had no other problems

i wouldn't pay to have it done, but if you can do it in your driveway i would go for it, bolts and a head gasket aren't very expensive

***Tercel GTS*** · 12-05-2003, 07:59 PM

I've put more head gaskets on my 22/20r than I care to remember, let me give you some hard learned lessons.
1 Replace the head bolts EVERY time.
2 Get the gasket from Toyota
3 Don't let anybody talk you into putting a 20r head on a 22r block
4 Make sure the water pump, radiator, hoses and anything else that may have made it run hot in the first place are repaired also

greasemonkee87 · 12-13-2003, 02:57 AM

Well ive been there a few times. The best way to do it is to just buy a new-used engine or a rebuilt engine. New-used engines cost about 1/2 price compared to the rebuilt engine. New-used engines come from japan with about 30000 miles on them and have to have a certain compression in order to be sold to the public. I could get a 22r long block for 600 bucks with 175 psi compression average and 40000 miles on it from a local Attarco engine shop. Its shipped from japan since the emissions are so anal. 1 reason why i recommend replacing the whole engine is because it brings more confidence to your mind and you have the old engine sitting around. That means that you could spend some time and a little bit of money to rebuild this engine and keep it as a spare or make some easy money. When you replace your engine make sure you replace the improtant things like the water pump and the timing chain. These things are critical since the engine is out of the engine bay why not replace it now.

Edgeman · 12-15-2003, 07:42 PM

I wouldn't worry about bumping the compression because of shaving the head. These engines are tough as nails, and will easily survive a slight bump in compression. As people have stated above, buy a Toyota head gasket, and definitely buy new head bolts/studs. You don't want to re-use the old stuff that failed.

I'm not aware of an engine flush that doesn't require the engine to run. I would change the coolant and oil, add the flush, then change the oil again. It should be back to new!

If you don't trust the shaved head, you can always buy a new big valve head (and cam) for about $1000.

stickman460 · 12-16-2003, 04:10 PM

hey " Tercel GTS", i see that you say you have changed the Head Gasket on your 22r many times. Is this a problem with the 22R engines or something? because i think my head gasket might be shot also. It's not really a problem right now, but later on. Should I just replace the head gasket, or new vehiccle? lol... thanks

Edgeman · 12-16-2003, 08:12 PM

...at least not any more than any other Japanese engine (very infrequent if you keep up with your routine maintenance).

I think what he was saying is to do the recommended "book" procedure every time. No aftermarket gasket material (it isn't as good as Toyota stuff), avoid head swaps (problems), always replace the hardware (old bolts/studs may not hold torque), etc.

Just follow the directions and your engine will last a long time.

Spanky · 03-15-2004, 01:06 PM

I had a 93 and the head gasket blew at 93000 miles and found out it was a factory recall and got it done for free. They even paid for a rental until they were tru with my truck.
Gary

EnolaGaia · 03-16-2004, 08:19 AM

A lot depends on how long you've been using the engine with the gasket failing and/or how hot it got if it just blew one day. If you didn't overheat (quick fail) or use it repeatedly (slow fail), replacing the head gasket will suffice. If either of those conditions happened, though, I'd either go for a major rebuild or simply transplant a rebuilt (or similarly-fresh) engine.

***Tercel GTS*** · 03-16-2004, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stickman460
hey " Tercel GTS", i see that you say you have changed the Head Gasket on your 22r many times. Is this a problem with the 22R engines or something? because i think my head gasket might be shot also. It's not really a problem right now, but later on. Should I just replace the head gasket, or new vehiccle? lol... thanks

Well truthfully I was driving it very hard. I also had increased compression and cam specs. But once the bolts get hot enough to stretch they seem damaged and will stretch easier the second time. Sorry my reply was so late.

390FE · 05-10-2005, 10:28 AM

Don't mean to jump in here and steal a thread but is it possible for the head gasket to be blown but have no coolant in the oil. The guy I bought my truck off of said the radiator poped on hes way home and because of that the head gasket was shot. I am guessing he was on a 100 mile trip give or take and the radiator went 1/2 way home. The motor still runs good and there is no sign of coolant in the oil. There is oil all down the side of the block tho.

And am I thinking wrong but a motor with a good head gasket will have X amount of pressure and after it goes and you put in a new gasket on won't the pressure just go back to X amount? I do realize that milling a head will bump the compression but don't they have aftermarket hed gaskets that are a bit thicker to keep the compression at the normal "X" pressure? I know they have thinner head gaskets for V8's that alone bump up the compression and thicker to do the opposite.

Toy Sport 4x4 · 05-10-2005, 11:26 AM

The head gasket on mine blew at 215000 miles. it was my fault that it blew though. I went and had the whole engine rebuilt and the shop said there was nothing wrong with the bottom end but I still had it rebuilt. I have been told every time you adjust the valves to retorque the head bolts to be sure they haven't been backed out any. Never reuse the same bolts because bolts stretch when they are torqued. So if you keep reusing them they keep stretching.